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Nearly 75 percent of all deaths in the United States are attributed to just ten causes, with the top three of these accounting for over 50 percent of all deaths.

Over the last 5 years, the main causes of death in the U.S. have remained fairly consistent.

The most recent data (2014)(resource no longer available at www.cdc.gov) reveals that annually there were 2,626,418 deaths registered in the U.S., which equates to:

An age-adjusted death rate, which accounts for the aging population, of 823.7 deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population

A life expectancy at birth of around 78.8 years

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for almost 1 in every 4 deaths, and affecting significantly more men than women.

Death rates below are calculated on an annual basis per 100,000 of estimated population. Age-adjusted rates are used to compare relative mortality risks among groups and over time. Below, we expand on each of the causes of death and ask whether they can be prevented.

1: Heart disease

Deaths: 614,348

Rate: 192.7

Age-adjusted rate: 167.0

Percentage of total deaths: 23.4 percent

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. and also the leading cause of death worldwide. More than half of the deaths that occur as a result of heart disease are in men.

Heart disease is a term used to describe several conditions, many of which are related to plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries.

As the plaque builds up, the arteries narrow, this makes it more difficult for blood to flow and creates a risk for heart attack or stroke.

Take steps to reduce stress levels, or get help with stress management

2: Cancer

Deaths: 591,699

Rate: 185.6

Age-adjusted rate: 161.2

Percentage of total deaths: 22.5 percent

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can interfere with essential life-sustaining systems and result in death.

Anyone can develop cancer, but the risk of most types of cancer increases with age, and some individuals have higher or lower risk due to differences in exposure to carcinogens (such as from smoking) and as a result of genetic factors.

Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women.

Can cancer be prevented?

A substantial proportion of cancers are preventable, and all cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented.

The World Cancer Research Fund has estimated that up to one-third of cancer cases that occur in economically developed countries like the U.S. are related to being overweight, obese, inactive (sedentary), or poor nutrition. These are all preventable.

Some cancers are related to infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) - these may be prevented through behavioral changes and use of protective vaccinations and antibiotic treatments.

Many of the more than 3 million skin cancer cases that are diagnosed annually could be prevented by protecting skin from excessive sun exposure and avoiding indoor tanning.

Warning signs and symptoms of COPD

Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:

Difficulty breathing (breathlessness), especially when active

A persistent cough with phlegm

Frequent chest infections

How can COPD be prevented?

In the U.S., tobacco smoke is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD, although exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role.

Smoking is a primary risk factor of COPD, and approximately 80 percent of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking.

To prevent COPD:

Quit smoking

Avoid second-hand smoke

Avoid air pollution

Avoid chemical fumes

Avoid dust

4: Accidents

Deaths: 136,053

Rate: 42.7

Age-adjusted rate: 40.5

Percentage of total deaths: 5.2 percent

Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Accidents, also referred to as unintentional injuries, are at present the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of death for those aged1-44.

Possible prevention measures

By their very natures, accidents are unintentional, but there are many ways to reduce the risk of accidental death and injury. Some key components of accident prevention include those focused on road safety, such as seat-belt use, and improved awareness of the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

5: Stroke

Deaths: 133,033

Rate: 41.7

Age-adjusted rate: 36.5

Percentage of total deaths: 5.1 percent

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Cerebrovascular diseases are conditions that develop as a result of problems with the blood vessels that supply the brain. Four of the most common types of cerebrovascular disease are:

Every year more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke; risk of having a stroke varies with race, ethnicity, and geography; it also increases with age. However, in 2009, 24 percent of people hospitalized for stroke were younger than 65 years.

The highest death rates from stroke in the U.S. occur in the southeast.

Signs and symptoms of stroke

During a stroke, every second counts. Fast treatment can reduce the brain damage that stroke can cause.
Signs and symptoms of stroke include sudden:

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

6: Alzheimer's disease

Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in cognitive function that affects a person's ability to perform everyday activities.

Dementia is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain. As a result of the damage, neurons can no longer function normally and may die. This, in turn, can lead to changes in memory, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.

Alzheimer's disease is just one type of dementia, with vascular dementia causing similar symptoms but resulting from changes to the blood vessels that supply circulation to the brain. For people with Alzheimer's disease, the damage and death of neurons eventually impair the ability to carry out basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing.

People in the final stages of the disease are bed-bound and require round-the-clock care. Alzheimer's is ultimately fatal.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease currently, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most expensive conditions in the nation and is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot currently be cured, prevented, or slowed. In 2015, the cost of Alzheimer's in the U.S. is estimated at $226 billion.

Despite these already staggering figures, Alzheimer's is expected to cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today's dollars) in 2050. This is, in part, because of improved rates of early detection, treatment, and prevention of other major causes of death, meaning that more people survive into older age (when the risk of Alzheimer's disease is greatest).

Can Alzheimer's be prevented?

As the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown, there is no way to prevent the condition. However, there are some steps you can take that may help to delay the onset of dementia.

Alzheimer's is thought to develop as a result of complex interactions among multiple factors, including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and coexisting medical conditions.

Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

Many of the factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart or blood vessels) have also been connected to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In fact, results of autopsies have revealed the some 80 percent of people with Alzheimer's have cardiovascular disease.

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as stroke and heart attacks, may be reduced by improving cardiovascular health using steps such as:

Stopping smoking

Avoiding excess alcohol intake

Eating a healthy balanced diet

Regular exercise

Checking and managing blood pressure through regular health tests

Carefully managing diabetes or prediabetes, including taking appropriate medications and following dietary and lifestyle recommendations

Staying mentally active

Evidence suggests rates of dementia are lower in mentally, physically, and socially active people. It may be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by:

Reading

Writing for pleasure

Learning foreign languages

Playing musical instruments

Taking part in adult education courses

Playing sports

Walking

7: Diabetes

Deaths: 76,488

Rate: 24.0

Age-adjusted rate: 20.9

Percentage of total deaths: 2.9 percent

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body is no longer able to carefully control blood glucose, leading to abnormally high levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia). Persistently elevated blood glucose can cause damage to the body's tissues, including the nerves, blood vessels, and tissues in the eyes.

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, a simple sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ situated near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin that helps glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When a person has diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in the blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and the need for amputation of the lower extremities or limbs.

Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for about 5 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for about 90-95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes

People who think they might have diabetes must visit a doctor for diagnosis. They may have some or none of the following symptoms:

Frequent urination

Excessive thirst

Unexplained weight loss

Extreme hunger

Sudden vision changes

Tingling or numbness in hands or feet

Feeling very tired much of the time

Very dry skin

Sores that are slow to heal

More infections than usual

Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of type 1 diabetes.

Can diabetes be prevented?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system misidentifies the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and attacks these cells.

Researchers are making progress in identifying the involvement of genes and triggering factors that predispose some individuals to develop type 1 diabetes, but there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Unlike with type 1 diabetes, there are numerous ways to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A number of studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk, as can maintaining a healthy body weight

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large prevention study of people at high risk for diabetes, showed that lifestyle intervention that resulted in weight loss and increased physical activity in this population can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and in some cases return blood glucose levels to within the normal range. Other international studies have shown similar results.

8: Influenza and pneumonia

Deaths: 55,227

Rate: 17.3

Age-adjusted rate: 15.1

Percentage of total deaths: 2.1 percent

Influenza and pneumonia are the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter season. The reason influenza is more prevalent in the winter is not known; however, data suggest the virus survives and is transmitted better in cold temperatures. Influenza is spread easily from person to person, usually when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

A person can have the flu more than once because the virus that causes the disease may belong to different strains of one of three different influenza virus families: A, B or C. Type A viruses tend to have a greater effect on adults, while type B viruses are a greater problem in children.

Influenza can be complicated by pneumonia, a serious condition that can cause inflammation of the lungs. In people with pneumonia, the air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid, preventing oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body's cells cannot work properly, which can lead to death.

A drug called Synagis (palivizumab) can be given to some children younger than 24 months to prevent pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus.

Patients with cancer or HIV should consult their doctor for advice on how to reduce their risk of pneumonia and other infections.

9: Kidney disease

Deaths: 48,146

Rate: 15.1

Age-adjusted rate: 13.2

Percentage of total deaths: 1.8 percent

Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis are all conditions, disorders, or diseases of the kidneys.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as healthy kidneys. Because of this, waste from the blood remains in the body and may cause other health problems.

An estimated 10 percent of adults in the U.S. - more than 20 million people - are thought to have CKD to some degree. The chances of developing CKD increase with age, especially after the age of 50, and the condition is most common among adults older than 70.

Awareness and understanding about kidney disease is critically low, with an estimated 26 million Americans having chronic kidney disease. Among those with severe (stage 4) kidney disease, fewer than half realize that they have damaged kidneys.

Warning signs and symptoms of kidney disease

The early symptoms of chronic kidney disease are the same as for many other illnesses. These symptoms may be the only sign of a problem in the early stages.

Smoking and COPD. (2017, January 23). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/copd.html(resource no longer available at www.cdc.gov)

Stroke facts. (2016, December 30). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm(resource no longer available at www.cdc.gov)

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adults aged under 18 Years - United States, 2008-2009. (2011, October 21). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6013a1.htm(resource no longer available at www.cdc.gov)

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